Pong Clock Screensaver

Pongclock ScreenshotThis bad larry has been around for a few years yet in my "inner circle of nerd-dom". I've just never gotten around to posting it here. I don't know why, but I blame the dog.

 

It's for Windows only, but should work in anything >= Win98SE.  Linux version is forthcoming, after I finish up with the second phase of the clock - Space Invaders!

 

Readme:

  1. Copy the pongclock.scr to your Windows directory (ex. C:\Windows)
  2. Open up your Display Properties (right click on your Desktop and go to Settings)
  3. Select the Screensaver tab
  4. Select pongclock in the Screensaver section
  5. Click OK.

Features:

  • Redesigned to use C++ (you probably don't care about this...)
  • Added a real clock (with seconds and date), if you want it. For a legit pongclock that you hang on the wall I figure this might be useful.
  • Clock font is customizable wiith your own TTF file. I included a old school digital clock font to test it out, but feel free to replace it with something else. If you find a cool font that looks great, let me know!
  • Added a couple other colors instead of bright white.  Current selection is green, grey, white and cycle.  "cycle" will cycle through the colors at a defined (in the config file) interval. I figure this might help save some burn in (but hell if I know if it actually will. It looks cool though).
  • Added a disclaimer during start up. I hope Atari doesn't sue my poor ass.
  • Added a screenshot key (F12) to take a screenshot (helpful for posting in forums for advertising or taking screenshots for a magazine article ;) )
  • Tweaked a couple things to make it look less robotic and more "real". Now, when the player loses the ball it doesn't look like it was on purpose. Or that's the hope anyway. Also, the ball doesn't go ONLY 45 degrees any more during the serve. It's randomized.  I'm not sure if this is how it was in the original game though. (I'm trying to keep the feel as authentic as possible, unless there's a good reason to do otherwise).
  • Exits when you move the mouse in addition to the ESCAPE key.  You can turn this on or off in the config file. (useful for screensaver mode)

 

AttachmentSize
pongclock.zip765.54 KB

Linux

Any progress on the Linux version of this by chance? :)